- Faith
Some of these posts here on -ism's, triune God, flawed faith, etc. are interesting topics for discussion, but are not paths to God, or the kingdom of heaven.
The coming of the Messiah was foretold by the Jewish prophets in the Old Testament, and Jesus proclaimed his identity, and the way to the kingdom of heaven in the writings of the apostles. Some of you will never believe this, some are thinking about it, and some are believers - and that's OK.
The point of all this is your attempts to use logic, deductive reasoning, mathematics, and other disciplines to make your decision simply won't work. Read the scriptures, think about what you read, and decide for yourself, but know there will be some of read that has to be taken on - Faith, and I can't tell you how to do this, faith is a gift. You either have it, or you don't.
@mchill saidJesus was asked several times how one can get eternal life in the Kingdom of God and not once did Jesus say what you just said. So I would say you have missed the mark.
- Faith
Some of these posts here on -ism's, triune God, flawed faith, etc. are interesting topics for discussion, but are not paths to God, or the kingdom of heaven.
The coming of the Messiah was foretold by the Jewish prophets in the Old Testament, and Jesus proclaimed his identity, and the way to the kingdom of heaven in the writings of the apostles. Some of you will ...[text shortened]... on - Faith, and I can't tell you how to do this, faith is a gift. You either have it, or you don't.
@mchill saidI have read the scriptures. I don't have "faith". And I cannot just somehow decide to have it. So, what now, according to your beliefs?
Read the scriptures, think about what you read, and decide for yourself, but know there will be some of read that has to be taken on - Faith, and I can't tell you how to do this, faith is a gift. You either have it, or you don't.
@fmf saidI don't have an answer to that, but I once thought as you do when I was younger. What I do know is that when you reach your late 60's the thought of that hole in the ground inching ever closer - has a way of "modifying" one's views. 🙂
I have read the scriptures. I don't have "faith". And I cannot just somehow decide to have it. So, what now, according to your beliefs?
This time we are presently in is a time of training and preparation to enter into the next epoch and age of human history.
The preparation is not justr making ONE decision to or not to believe some objective facts stated in the Bible. Decision is important. But gradually allowing the Spirit of Christ to enter and spread into more and more and more of our heart and personality is the preparation God is gracriously allow us to enter into the age of Christ reigning on earth for the initial thousand years before the eternal age.
Yes, a binary decision to believe in Christ or not is important.
But Christ making His home in more and more of our hearts is the training we need to prepare us to live in the kingdom age.
He wants us all to make it.
He wants all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.
He is not wanting any to perish but all to advance to repentance.
Second Peter 3:8,9 - "But do not let this one thing escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord does not delay regarding the promise, as some count delay, but is longsuffering toward you, not intending that any perish but that all advance to repentance."
mchill,
The point of all this is your attempts to use logic, deductive reasoning, mathematics, and other disciplines to make your decision simply won't work. Read the scriptures, think about what you read, and decide for yourself, but know there will be some of read that has to be taken on - Faith, and I can't tell you how to do this, faith is a gift. You either have it, or you don't.
You're right.
We do our best. But faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Here's an anology from y experience.
Have you ever gone to sleep listening to a speech or someone talking or even music? It seems like for awhile though you are not conscious you can "hear" in the background the words. As you get deeper and deeper into sleep you may STILL hear something.
Then you seem to hit a threshold. And then you hear nothing. Your mind seems to leave the sound available to your consciousness to a certain degree, UNTIL suddenly there is NO SOUND. There is a nothingness, a void, no sense of HEARING.
The speech may still be going on. But you have slipped below a level of congnition that makes you totally oblivious to the sound. Though you heard something going on in your ears, maybe even had dreams about it. Suddenly - SILENCE . . . nothingness.
This is an analogy. Imperfect, but useful imo.
Men read the Bible. They see the words. They hear the words. But in their innermost spirit they cannot discern that it is God speaking. They hear only sounds. The heart is hardened perhaps. The conscience is foretified perhaps not wanting to touch authority, not wanting to be convicted of sin.
There is nothing heard. There is nothing heard of God's voice.
I tell you in the Bible is the speaking of God.
But some are deaf. It is like hearing nothing.
They cannot detect either God's love, God's mercy, God's righteousness, nothing.
For this reason I do believe even the Son of God said on a few occasions -
"He who has ears to hear let him hear." (Matt. 11:15)